How we let Barack Obama define conservatism

Matt K. Lewis

Matt K. Lewis is a senior contributor to The Daily Caller, and a contributing editor for The Week. He is a respected commentator on politics and cultural issues, and has been cited by major publications such as The Washington Post and The New York Times. Matt is from Myersville, MD and currently resides in Alexandria, VA. Follow Matt K. Lewis on Twitter <a>@mattklewis</a>.

My latest column for The Week deals with how modern conservatism has become defined by Barack Obama.

Rather than proactively crafting a coherent philosophy that might appeal to 21st century Americans, conservatives reflexively become the “not Obama” party.

Here’s what I mean:

“If Obama wants collectivism, then the opposite of that isn’t responsible and voluntary communitarianism, but radical individualism. If Obama wants to redistribute wealth via government, then the opposite of that isn’t to encourage private charity, but to flaunt the virtues of selfishness.”